Your Role as a Sports Parent

We’re committed to age-appropriate instruction and programming that helps your child grow mentally and physically. We’re also committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for players. It’s why we have every parent sign our Parental Pledge, promising to create a positive atmosphere. Here are a few ways parents can help their young players develop and grow on the field, at each age level:  
 
Pee Wees
For our youngest i9 Sports® athletes, we offer programming designed to keep kids learning and having fun. Starting at age 3, our Pee Wee sport curriculum is designed to grow with your child teaching skills and gameplay.
 
Children at this age can read and interpret the emotions of others, particularly when someone is upset or angry. It’s important for parents to be good role models of sportsmanship at this level. Staying positive on the sidelines can help your child learn the right way to play and cheer. 
 
These young athletes are still developing their motor skills so parents should not get too involved with their child’s performance. Let them have fun! A winning-first mentality, especially at this level creates too much stress for children. 
 
Juniors
For i9 Sports® elementary-aged athletes, we offer programming designed to keep kids learning the fundamentals of the sport and understanding the dynamics of working as a team all while having fun. The curriculum teaches your child that winning and losing are part of the game, and it’s how you win or lose that sets you apart from others.
 
Kids at this level of development are intensely interested in peer relationships and value the feeling of belonging and acceptance. Parents can help by promoting the value of teamwork to their children, emphasizing that working together helps achieve personal and group goals. 
 
Juniors also are able to understand the viewpoints of others and are able to view themselves based on how they perform on the field. These children can recognize the feeling of pressure to win from parents.Keeping your child focused on putting in a good effort is important for this stage of development. 
 
 
Seniors
The i9 Sports® senior curriculum is designed to give our oldest age group opportunities to build on their skills and grow as an athlete all while continuing to love the game!
 
Major developmental milestones for kids at this age include beginning to question authority, further acceptance of parental beliefs and a desire to imitate older youth and adults. It’s crucial that parentsrefrain from any negativity towards officials, coaches or other players. 
 
It’s also important that parents let the coach be the coach at this level. Age-appropriate programming at this level focuses on helping kids develop a greater mastery of the game, increasing their knowledge and application of the sport’s fundamentals. 
 
Our goal is for kids to have FUN, but we also want our i9 Sports® parents to enjoy the experience as much as their children!